The results of a truly riveting Executive Board campaign week, which spanned from October 27 to the 31, were announced on Wednesday, November 5. The participating United Student Body (USB) candidates for the 2025 to 2026 school year exhibited exceptional campaigns, with every poster and down to the last sticker shared on campus serving to exemplify the dedication of each student. Despite running against each other, these students all shared the same aim: to promote change and improvements at Ayala through student involvement.

“The unity I saw towards one student goal was something that will definitely stick with me,” Lucas Liu (11), the newly elected Vice President, said.

The results for the six chairs on Ayala’s Executive Board are as follows:

President: Dylan Chang (11)

Vice-President: Lucas Liu

Secretary: Ian Chen (10)

Finance Chair: Madelyn Araki (10)

UCC Chair: Ava Park (10)

Speaker of the House: Jacob Cruz (11)

Before these students can start the arduous work of promoting positive school culture as they settle into their newfound positions, it must be acknowledged that their victories were the fruits of their hard work during campaign week. Campaigning provided the opportunity for the candidates to establish their creativity, dedication, and individuality with the hopes of convincing the student body to put a check next to their name on election day.

This year, students were witnesses to an engaging race, filled with candidates tirelessly advertising and marketing themselves. A mix of traditional and more modern strategies, this campaign week was exemplary. 

“I think our campaign is an example of what the future [candidates] want to be,” Cruz said. 

A significant factor in students promoting themselves was the assistance of social media. With the internet further ingrained into student culture in recent years, candidates utilized it to their advantage, taking recent trends into account in order to be more relatable. Tagging friends on Instagram, creating silly reels, or even making an AI video of yourself, as was the case for Chang, is now working alongside traditional means of campaigning.

“Social media is a really important aspect now,” Cruz said. “I think it is big if you want to broaden your audience.” 

A sense of community is also formed during campaign week, the bonds between students strengthened with every picture posed for and each piece of candy passed out. Candidates welcomed the task to go out and interact with the student body, allowing them to take what they have observed and utilize it to serve students to the utmost of their abilities. 

Other students created strong messages to enhance their campaigns, building upon the ideals held dear at Ayala to appeal to students’ emotions. Relying on catchy slogans with powerful diction, these candidates filled Ayala with a buzzing energy as posters decorated the school halls. This strategy was utilized by Chen, with his bold statement “With Chen We Can,” and also by Liu and his creation “The Ayalacan Dream.”

“It’s a play on words, both meaning Ayalacan Dream, like American, but also that Ayala can, in that Ayala can enact the change we want to do,” Liu said. “Specifically, student privilege, like the privilege of off-campus lunch.”

These promises from students are not empty, and the jobs of the newly elected Executive Board are just beginning. A main concern for the Executive Board is promoting interest and understanding throughout the student body for the campaign week itself. Engaged student voters is one step USB wishes to take towards redefining leadership and the Executive Board at Ayala. All voices deserved to be heard.

“I think it’s important for all students to vote because it ensures that the results are fair and that all students are recognized,” Chang said.

Furthermore, a well-informed and involved student body is another main goal the Executive Board wants to accomplish to enhance all students’ time as a Bulldog. Many students go through all four years at Ayala, none the wiser of what goes on behind the scenes in USB. The new Executive Board plans to rectify this serious problem. 

“Most people don’t really know what E-Board does,” Liu said.  “I think we need to promote transparency and accountability.”

These changes will not be achieved in a day. However, the determination and strength of these students prove that it will undoubtedly be executed. Through it all, this new group of students acts as representatives of what Ayala wishes to achieve in every classroom, sport, and program on campus. As this distinguished board steps into their roles, they are role models to all.

“If we work together, it sets a great example of both teamwork and communication skills with the people you’re around,” Cruz said. “It’s overall making the school a better environment, more alive, and making students want to actually come to school.”